Top.



J. W. WINGERT.

TOP.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 27, 1913.

1,109,562. Patented Sept. 1,1914.

INVENTOR Attorney 7H5 NORRIS PETERS C0" PHOTU LlTHO-, WYASHINGIDN. D, C.

UNITED STATES PATENT oninon" JOHN w. wmennr, or wIoHITA, ansas, a I,

TOP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 27, 1913. Serial No. 757,255. a

To all whom it may concern: v

Be it known that I, J onNlV. VVINGERT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Wichita, in the county of Sedgwick and State of Kansas, have'invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tops, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to toys and amusement devices, more specifically including a spinning apparatus, commonly termed a top.

The prime object of this invention is .to provide a top including a revoluble body portion, capable of rotation at a high speed, in conjunction with means effectually supporting the same when in operation.

Another object is to construct a device of this character, wherein the body portion is so formed that a greater moment of inertia is attained, this resulting from making the body portion heavier adjacent its periphery than at the intermediate part thereof.

A further object lies in the employment of suitable bearing mechanism for engagement with the respective extremities of the body, in order to facilitate and prolong rotation thereof.

A still furtherobject is to construct a device as mentioned which includes but a few simple and easily constructed parts, materially decreasing cost of manufacture, while at the same time greatly prolonging longevity thereof.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention relates to such details of construction and in the arrangement and combination of parts as will be hereinafter more fully set forth and specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing my invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of my invention; Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View thereof, showing parts in elevation; and Fig. 3 is a plan view. I

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings, wherein is illustrated the preferred embodiment of my invention, I have provided a mandrel for supporting the revoluble member of the device, and allow the latter to rotate thereon in the desired direction. The mandrel is designated in the drawing by the numeral 10, the

latter being so formed, whereby its periphery, adjacent the engagement with the revoluble member',-"is'-' comparatively smooth and does'not resist rotation of the latter when in operation. One end of the mandrel is provided with a head portion 11 tapered to a point at one endwhile one surface thereof is comparatively level relative to the ver tical axis of the former. 1

The revoluble member of the sists of upper and lower sections 12 and 18, the lower section being constricted at its lower. extremity and enlarged at such constricted portion as at 14: in order to form any annular ball race 15 of the usual configuration. The upper extremity of the other section is constricted adjacent its upper end,

such constricted portion-being again enlarged at 16, whereby a second ball race 18 is provided. The ends of the sections are flattened as at 19 and 20 in order to provide flat surfaces which may be securely fastened together through the medium of rivet elements 21, as shown. The adjacent periphdevice con-. I

so I

eriesof the sections are provided with outa I standing flared flanges 22 and 23 serving to grip a ring member 24 formed of rubber or other similar material. 0

Bearings 25 are mounted in the respective races provided therefor, the bearings at the 7 bottom of the device eliminating friction between the enlarged portion 14. of the lower section and the upper face of the head portion 11. The bearings in the upper race 18 engage the lower face of a loose handle portion 26 on the mandrel, consequently friction at this point is eliminated.

In the operation of my invention, the handle portion is grasped in the usual manner, a cord or tape of suitable length being wound about the lower section 13 as close as possible, the cord or cable being held in such position through the co-action of the enlargement 14:. The handle being grasped in one end, enables the operator to place the head portion on a suitable support, after which the cord on the lower section is forcibly unwound from the revoluble device, consequently imparting movement thereto which stantially upright position. The provision of the ring element 24: greatly adds to the is sufiicient to hold the entire top in a sub- I the body portion in the manner set forth above, and placing the ring member on the support, the rotary movement of the body being suflicient to propel the entire device for some distance.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a device of the character described, a supporting structure, a member revoluble thereon, said member formed in sections, and a ring member secured between said sections, substantially as described.

2. In a device of the character described,

. a su ortino structure includin a head or v e, c p

tion, a member revoluble about said structure, means for ehmmatmg friction between said member and said head portion, said member being formed in sections, and a ring member gripped between said sections, sub stantially as described.

3. In a device of the kind described, a supporting structure, a revoluble member on said supporting structure, means on said supporting structure for retaining said revoluble member thereon, and ball races formed on both ends of said revoluble member to admit bearings whereby the friction between said revoluble member and said retaining means on said supporting structure will be eliminated.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in resence of two witnesses.

JOHN W. WINGERT.

Witnesses:

WV. R. DULANEY, V. M. Moimis.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. C. 

